As the premier event for the Microsoft Dynamics Customer and Partner business community, Convergence is where opportunity and innovation meet to deliver real business value. It’s the chance to make key business connections and to discover the full potential of Microsoft Dynamics solutions.

Expo and Microsoft Solutions Experience

The Expo Experience puts the global Microsoft Dynamics community front and center as our valued partners from around the world bring their technology innovations to you. The Microsoft Solutions Experience runs through the middle of the Experience Center and is your place to go for Technical Support, Product Demos, and the AXUG, CRMUG, GPUG, and NAVUG User Groups.

See the community come alive as this gathering space–on Level 1 of the NOMCC—offers you opportunities for networking, sharing and relaxation.

Community Experience Hours: Monday, March 18 – 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Tuesday, March 19 – 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Wednesday, March 20 – 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Thursday, March 21 – 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Convergence Café

Stop by the new lounge area, similar to your favorite neighborhood hangout. You’ll find tables and couches where you can meet-up with others, access Wi-Fi, recharge your devices, and enjoy fun refreshments from some of our Microsoft Dynamics customers.

Monday, March 18

11:00 AM – Registration Opens

Onsite registration will be located in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOMCC), NO, LA.

Find out how sales and marketing teams are using CRM as a tool to collaborate and share information. Learn how Microsoft Dynamics CRM provides tools to address sensitive issues around whom own the data and what is being done with contacts that are put in by individuals on both marketing and sales teams.

1:30 PM – 2:30 – 5 Ways Mobile Will Boost Your CRM Strategy, 278-280

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is really a phrase of stubbornness. Unfortunately, doing things a certain way because that’s how they’ve always been done keeps your organization from growing. Join this session to learn the top five ways mobile can boost your CRM strategy. Mobile CRM experts from Sonoma Partners and Resco will share the key reasons having a solid plan for mobile can take your CRM – and with it, your business – to new levels.

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– Microsoft Dynamics CRM Data Integrity – Good & Bad, 271-273

Join this session to gain insight into both good and bad examples of CRM data integrity and stewardship. This session will share real life customer scenarios illustrating how data integrity can impact adoption, performance, development and competitive advantage. We’ll discuss the must-haves for strong data stewardship such as governance and quality assurance.

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– Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 & Microsoft SharePoint 2013: A New Way to Work Together, 281-282

The integration of Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Microsoft SharePoint is not a new topic, however, the ‘December’ release of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 working with the new Microsoft SharePoint 2013 provides a whole new level of integration between these two platforms. Join this session to explore a new way to organize, sync and share all your content. We’ll navigate through topics including social and team collaboration, cross-system visibility and mobility.

3:00 PM – 3:45 PM – Roles, Hall C, CEC

This informal networking session offers you the opportunity to gather together with others in the Microsoft Dynamics CRM community that serve similar roles in your day-to-day work life, including: Executive/Project Managers; Business Users; System Administration/IT Support; and Technical/Developers. *Hosted by the CRMUG*

4:00 PM – 4:45 PM – Industries, Hall C, CEC

Join this informal networking session as we gather together with others in the Microsoft Dynamics CRM community in similar industries to connect, share experiences and swap ideas. Industries to include: Manufacturing; Public Sector – Government/Healthcare; Public Sector – Education; Financial Services; Professional Services; CRM Online and Non-Profit. *Hosted by the CRMUG*

Join us as we kick-off Convergence 2013! This year we are starting things off in the hub of it all – the Convergence Experience Center. This is your opportunity to get familiar with the amazing resources and activities in this area that are available to you all week – from the hottest solutions and offerings from our partners from around the globe, to the multiple opportunities to network with your peers. And no reception would be complete without food and beverages, a little music and entertainment, and other fun activities that await – all with some great New Orleans flavor kicked in!

The Opening Keynote is our time for the community to come together as the course is set for both the future of Microsoft Dynamics and your time at Convergence 2013. Join Kirill Tatarinov, President of Microsoft Business Solutions Division, Microsoft Corporation, as the stories unfold and the vision is revealed for A World Ahead.

11:00 AM– 12:00 PM – The New Era in CRM, La Nouvelle ABC

Join us to celebrate the first decade of Microsoft Dynamics CRM and the tremendous momentum we’ve built together. Then, let’s look to the future…we’ll share our vision, discuss how we see the role of CRM changing as we enter the Era of the Customer and what that means for sales, marketing and customer care. And we’ll show you the path forward in exciting new product demonstrations. You’ll leave with a fresh perspective on opportunities before us and how Microsoft Dynamics CRM can help transform your business.

Increase the insights your users gain from business data by providing them with interactive and compelling charting, dashboards and desktop analysis tools in Microsoft Dynamics CRM. In this session, you’ll learn which options are available for analytics within Microsoft Dynamics CRM; how to visually present information to users where and when they need it; how to make charts and dashboards more relevant to individuals; and how to increase business performance with your business data.

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– Mobile Options for Microsoft Dynamics CRM, 391-392

Individuals are increasingly reliant on mobile devices. Whether in sales or service, there is a need to access CRM information and perform actions in real-time. Microsoft Dynamics CRM has a large number of mobile CRM solution options available. Come learn about the available options for your specific business processes. You’ll see practical demos of these solutions running on a variety of mobile devices. Additionally, this session will cover an overview of the mobility strategy for Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

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– Take Your Marketing to the Next Level with Microsoft Dynamics CRM & MarketingPilot, 388-390

According to Gartner, “companies that develop an integrated marketing management strategy will deliver a 50% higher return on marketing investment than those who don’t.” Microsoft Dynamics CRM has made significant investments in marketing automation with the acquisition of MarketingPilot, a solution that provides many new capabilities in campaign, marketing resource and marketing performance management. Learn how these capabilities can save your marketing team time & money and deliver more qualified leads to sales.

Learn how you can leverage Microsoft Dynamics CRM to improve your sales effectiveness. Hear how the sales management capabilities in Microsoft Dynamics CRM can drive better win-rates, pipeline insight and sales process management. Hear best practices on how other customers are using Microsoft Dynamics CRM to optimize their sales operations. See how the new user experiences in Microsoft Dynamics CRM can improve CRM adoption and utilization by your sales teams.

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– Customer Care Excellence in the Age of the Customer, 391-392

Companies today face a common challenge of attracting, engaging and retaining today’s highly empowered and connected customer. What does it take to thrive in the new customer age? Industry experts and customer-centric organizations agree that that the most successful organizations are those that enable their employees to respond effectively to customers to drive successful outcomes and engender customer loyalty.

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– Ask the MVPs: Q&A Discussion with Microsoft Dynamics CRM MVPs, 386

The Microsoft Dynamics MVP Program recognizes highly skilled Microsoft Dynamics CRM professionals with the Microsoft Most Value Professional (MVP) Award. We encourage you to bring questions, challenges, and thoughts to this interactive discussion with a panel of CRM MVPs who can provide advice to help you realize your business goals and get more out of your CRM investment. Note: This session is typically targeted at System Administrators, IT Professionals, or Technical/Developer audiences. *Sponsored by the CRM UG*

Attend this session to learn how your organization can leverage the powerful marketing capabilities in Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Your active participation will help to discuss best practices for improving the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and alignment with sales. Gather up product tips and best practices so you can optimize your marketing efforts and activities. *Sponsored by the CRM UG*

OR

– Best Practices for Managing Sales Teams & Collaboration, 387

Join this interactive session and explore how you can up-level your sales organization. Learn how to use Microsoft Dynamics CRM to achieve better team selling and collaboration across your organization. Hear best practices and tips from knowledgeable partners and customers and share your own experiences. *Sponsored by the CRM UG*

Increase the insights your users gain from business data by providing them with interactive and compelling charting, dashboards and desktop analysis tools in Microsoft Dynamics CRM. In this session, you’ll learn which options are available for analytics within Microsoft Dynamics CRM; how to visually present information to users where and when they need it; how to make charts and dashboards more relevant to individuals; and how to increase business performance with your business data.

OR

– Microsoft Dynamics CRM: Product Recap & Roadmap Primer, 393-396

Microsoft Dynamics CRM has delivered new levels of productivity for organizations. In this session, we’ll recap the broad range of capabilities delivered in Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Additionally we’ll demonstrate the updated user experience and integrated social collaboration capabilities delivered in our recent December 2012 Service Update. Finally, we’ll outline our vision and roadmap for the future of Microsoft Dynamics CRM over the next 6-24 months. ***This session is not repeated.

OR

– Boost Your Sales Productivity with Microsoft Dynamics CRM, 388-390

Learn how you can leverage Microsoft Dynamics CRM to improve your sales effectiveness. Hear how the sales management capabilities in Microsoft Dynamics CRM can drive better win-rates, pipeline insight and sales process management. Hear best practices on how other customers are using Microsoft Dynamics CRM to optimize their sales operations. See how the new user experiences in Microsoft Dynamics CRM can improve CRM adoption and utilization by your sales teams.

Microsoft provides a wealth of management solutions, including Microsoft Dynamics CRM, to enable document management and improve collaboration productivity. Uncover best practices focused on how Microsoft Dynamics CRM–in conjunction with solutions like Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Lync and Yammer–can help drive effective collaboration in your organization. Microsoft Dynamics CRM provides valuable capabilities in how users and teams interact and collaborate on business processes.

OR

– Ask the MVPs: Q&A Discussion with Microsoft Dynamics CRM MVPs, 386

The Microsoft Dynamics MVP Program recognizes highly skilled Microsoft Dynamics CRM professionals with the Microsoft Most Value Professional (MVP) Award. We encourage you to bring questions, challenges, and thoughts to this interactive discussion with a panel of CRM MVPs who can provide advice to help you realize your business goals and get more out of your CRM investment. Note: This session is typically targeted at System Administrators, IT Professionals, or Technical/Developer audiences. *Sponsored by the CRM UG*

OR

– Microsoft Dynamics CRM: Reimagining the User Experience, 383-385

The needs of the modern business professional have expanded beyond a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Our strategy with Microsoft Dynamics CRM is to provide our customers with the most natural and familiar user experience regardless of where and how the user needs to interact with CRM information and processes. Come to this session to see how users today work with CRM across different browsers, mobile devices and Microsoft Office. We’ll also preview innovation in user experiences to be delivered in future releases.

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– Finding Help When & Where You Need It: Microsoft Dynamics CRM Documentation,

Resources & Communities, 387

Join us for this engaging interactive session to talk about the Microsoft Dynamics CRM information landscape. We’ll be looking at our various web portals designed with specific audiences in mind, talking about the various online communities and forums where customers and partners engage, and discussing help model improvements and future user assistance customization opportunities. Attendees should leave this session with a better understanding of how to find the CRM information they need.

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM – Building a Social Strategy for Your Business, Theater A

Many organizations establish a Twitter or Facebook account and think that the job is done! Come to this session if you are interested in establishing a social strategy. If you are going to successfully harness social technologies, you need to do it properly – which involves thinking about how it fits into your communication and collaboration strategy. We’ll outline best practices and tips and tricks to get you started as well as how Microsoft Dynamics CRM and other Microsoft technologies can assist.

OR

– Mobile CRM: Increasing Sales & Service Effectiveness, 387

In this interactive discussion, you’ll learn how to maximize the productivity and effectiveness of your sales and service professionals with mobile applications. Mobile functionality puts your teams closer to customers and keeps them there. With powerful features for users, unique benefits for IT and unparalleled value for management, a mobile solution that truly meets the needs of today’s customer-agile company.

In today’s ever-changing economy, sales effectiveness and efficiency continues to be a priority. Companies are arming their sales organizations with access to real-time actionable business insight, enterprise collaboration tools, and adaptive business technology to better sell, compete and win. We’ll discuss how Microsoft and Microsoft Dynamics CRM can help provide the answer to this sales challenge and discuss how other customers were able to improve the effectiveness of their sales operations.

Engage with your fellow attendees to discuss how the use of Microsoft Dynamics CRM can provide service that meets customer expectations. Come prepared to share best practices and gather up tips and tricks that will help you meet your customers’ needs and give you the information and tools required to deliver precise and relevant service and support. *Sponsored by the CRM UG*

Microsoft has invested heavily in Business Process Management tools in Microsoft Dynamics CRM since the very first release of the product. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 customers have an incredibly rich toolset to configure and manage complex business processes. Come to this session to learn about innovative ways to use BPM features, such as dialogs and workflows in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, to automate and manage diverse business processes for your organization.

8:00 – Midnight – The Parish at the House of Blues, 225 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA

Join us as the Microsoft Dynamics community gathers together to consider our role in the global community. Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations (1997-2006), will draw from his deep experience in the world of international diplomacy to offer stories, insight and advice about leadership and cooperation in a global business environment.

In this interactive discussion, you’ll learn how to maximize the productivity and effectiveness of your sales and service professionals with mobile applications. Mobile functionality puts your teams closer to customers and keeps them there. With powerful features for users, unique benefits for IT and unparalleled value for management, a mobile solution that truly meets the needs of today’s customer-agile company.

Attend this session to learn how your organization can leverage the powerful marketing capabilities in Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Your active participation will help to discuss best practices for improving the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and alignment with sales. Gather up product tips and best practices so you can optimize your marketing efforts and activities. *Sponsored by the CRM UG*

Learn how DocuSign helps businesses of all sizes deliver extraordinary ROI by making it easy, fast, and secure to close deals. Collect information, signatures and payment – anytime, anywhere, on any device – in 40 languages. DocuSign’s integration with Microsoft Dynamics CRM and extensive API’s make it easy to add this functionality to your existing system and customize to any need. DocuSign is the global standard for eSignature with more than 27 million users in 188 countries.

Microsoft has invested heavily in Business Process Management tools in Microsoft Dynamics CRM since the very first release of the product. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 customers have an incredibly rich toolset to configure and manage complex business processes. Come to this session to learn about innovative ways to use BPM features, such as dialogs and workflows in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, to automate and manage diverse business processes for your organization.

OR

– Best Practices for Managing Sales Teams & Collaboration, 387

Join this interactive session and explore how you can up-level your sales organization. Learn how to use Microsoft Dynamics CRM to achieve better team selling and collaboration across your organization. Hear best practices and tips from knowledgeable partners and customers and share your own experiences. *Sponsored by the CRM UG*

It’s easier than you think to unlock amazing value from the cloud! The Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace provides more than 1500 solutions to extend your sales, service and marketing capabilities with Microsoft Dynamics CRM. In this session, we’ll showcase some of the hottest solutions on the Marketplace today.

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– Getting Started with Your Social Technology Strategy, 386

Many organizations are struggling with this new world of social networks and technologies. Come to this session to discuss business scenarios across sales, service and marketing where significant business value can be derived from the inclusion of social technologies in your strategy. We’ll cover practical steps to getting started on this journey and how Microsoft can support your strategy. Come prepared to exchange ideas with other organizations on how social technologies can align to your business objectives.

OR

– Mobile Options for Microsoft Dynamics CRM, 388-390

Individuals are increasingly reliant on mobile devices. Whether in sales or service, there is a need to access CRM information and perform actions in real-time. Microsoft Dynamics CRM has a large number of mobile CRM solution options available. Come learn about the available options for your specific business processes. You’ll see practical demos of these solutions running on a variety of mobile devices. Additionally, this session will cover an overview of the mobility strategy for Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

Join us for this engaging interactive session to talk about the Microsoft Dynamics CRM information landscape. We’ll be looking at our various web portals designed with specific audiences in mind, talking about the various online communities and forums where customers and partners engage, and discussing help model improvements and future user assistance customization opportunities. Attendees should leave this session with a better understanding of how to find the CRM information they need.

Engage with your fellow attendees to discuss how the use of Microsoft Dynamics CRM can provide service that meets customer expectations. Come prepared to share best practices and gather up tips and tricks that will help you meet your customers’ needs and give you the information and tools required to deliver precise and relevant service and support. *Sponsored by the CRM UG*

7:30 PM – 11:00 PM – Convergence Closing Celebration

As Convergence comes to a close, get ready to celebrate a great week! You definitely won’t want to miss this closing party—complete with terrific food and beverages, fun activities, and an amazing concert with Matchbox Twenty! It’s the perfect way to celebrate with friends and colleagues and cap off your Convergence 2013 experience!